Rosa plant named &#39;FLORI 3701&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant named ‘FLORI 3701’, characterized by its upright and strong flowering stems; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; double-type light violet-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FLORI 3701’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Rose plant, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘FLORI 3701’.

The new Rose plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed proprietary Rosa hybrida selection, not patented. The new Rose plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of the mutation parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Mishima, Osaka, Japan in August, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose plant by vegetative cuttings in Mishima, Osaka, Japan since August, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Rose plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Rose have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘FLORI 3701’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘FLORI 3701’ as a new and distinct Rose plant:

1. Upright and strong flowering stems.

2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.

3. Dark green-colored leaves.

4. Double-type light violet-colored flowers.

5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the mutation parent primarily in flower color as mutation parent selection have very light purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Rose can be compared to plants of Rosa hybrida ‘Ocean Song’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Rose differ from plants of ‘Ocean Song’ in the following characteristics:

1. Flowers of plants of the new Rose are slightly fragrant whereas flowers of plants of ‘Ocean Song’ are not fragrant.

2. Flowers of plants of the new Rose are light violet in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Ocean Song’ are very light purple in color.

3. Flowers of plants of the new Rose have more stamens and fewer pistils than flowers of plants of ‘Ocean Song’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Rose plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Rose plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a side perspective of typical flowering plants of ‘FLORI 3701’ grown in a ground bed.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical developed flower of ‘FLORI 3701’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in ground beds in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bogota, Colombia and under typical cut Rose production practices. Plants were three months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and night temperatures averaged 10° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida ‘FLORI 3701’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed     proprietary Rosa hybrida selection, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six             weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight             weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; whitish in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright and strong             flowering stems; typically grown as a standard-type cut             flower; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 148 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Branching habit: Freely branching habit             with numerous branches developing per plant. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous; older stems, woody. Strength: Strong.             Color: Close to 144C, becoming closer to 197B with             development. Thorns: Density: Random, about eight per 15 cm             of stem length. Shape: Triangular with sharp acuminate             apices; slightly incurved. Height: About 8.8 mm. Color:             Close to 84B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with typically five             leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 13.2 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 10.8 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 6.3 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 4.1 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaflet base.—Short attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Doubly serrate.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Rough,             pubescent; slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing and fully opened leaflets, upper             surface: Close to 136A. Developing and fully opened             leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138B.         -   Petioles.—Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Prickly. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A slightly tinged with             close to N79B.         -   Stipules.—Arrangement and appearance: Two, adnate to the             petiole, leafy in appearance. Length: About 2.5 cm. Shape:             Roughly deltoid. Apex: Acuminate, tapered. Base: Tapered.             Margin: Entire. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color,             lower surface: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Symmetrical double rosette             flowers; flowers typically grown as standard-types; flowers             face upright.         -   Flowering season.—Plants of the new Rose flower year-round             under greenhouse conditions; early flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about eight weeks after planting.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 5.3 cm.         -   Flower longevity.—Excellent postproduction longevity;             flowers maintain good substance for about 16 days as a cut             flower; flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant, pleasant.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Shape, cross-section:             Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 144D.         -   Petals and petaloids.—Quantity: About 30 per flower; petals             imbricate. Length: About 4.9 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Shape:             Nearly round. Apex: Rounded acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat leathery. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 84B; color does not fade with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 84B; color does not fade with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five forming a             star-shaped calyx. Length: About 4.2 cm. Width: About             9.6 mm. Shape: Subulate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Fused.             Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Somewhat             leathery. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 142C. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to N144D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.6 cm. Diameter: About 4.8 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: Upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 143D tinged with close to 79A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 171 per             flower. Filament length: About 7.8 mm. Filament color: Close             to 11D. Anther length: About 4.5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther color: Close to 19A. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity: About 84 per flower. Pistil length: About             1.1 cm. Pistil color: Close to 11D. Receptacle height: About             8.3 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 7.5 mm. Receptacle             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Receptacle color: Close to 142C.             Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Rose to date. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Rose have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Rose     plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Rose have been observed to     tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 45° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Rose plant named ‘FLORI 3701’ as illustrated and described. 